New Boat, New Beginnings

OK, so the bow and stern are stitched to the sides. It sort of looks like the beginning of a boat, doesn't it?

2008 Plymouth Boat Show

Went down east this morning to get my fix of wooden boats. Some of the entries were there last year, but there were some new ones. I got a chance to see a Melonseed Skiff, a boat I was interested in. Here's some pics from the show.



This is the Melonseed.


In my opinion, the prettiest boat at the show.


"Coastie", a radio-controlled USCG road boat that was a hit with the kids.


The CSS Albemarle, a Confederate ironclad (actually, a replica). This boat is part of the Port of Plymouth museum.

There's also a branch (albeit in its infancy) of the NC Maritime Museum in Plymouth.

For additional pictures go to
my Picasa site.

Next year, I'm going to enter a boat.

Transoms

Had a little bit of time last night and tonight. Last night, I rough cut the transoms from 1/2" ply. Since both the bow and stern are flat, there won't be a stem to cut. Tonight, I planed both down to their proper dimensions; they'll have to be "refined" a bit when the pieces start to come together.

Here's a pic of how they look: bow on the left, stern on the right, with the drawings in between.



Also today, I made the front page of the Franklin Times. Don't know how long it'll stay out there, so look quick!!

New Project Started

Well, it's mid-October, and I'm starting on the new project: the Apple Pie Yacht Tender (see Future Projects for description and plans). I bought the plywood for this small rowing boat a few weeks ago and decided to start cutting the necessary panels today.

Here you can see the bottom and two sides. These were cut from 1/4" ply. It took longer to draw and fair the curves than it took to cut and plane the panels themselves. I cut one side, then used it as a template to cut the other.

I'm going to be right busy working over the next couple of weeks. The Plymouth, NC boatshow is next Saturday, and I'm planning on attending that. Next week, I'll be in Northern VA and Laurel MD for the whole week. I doubt much will be done on the project before I get back. If I do get fortunate enough to work on it, I'll post the progress here.

Hello Again!!

Been a while since I've posted. Both my sons came down to visit this weekend with their familes. I took advantage of it to get them into the kayak. Here's the results!!

This is Jeremy. There was a video earlier on of Stu-III.

Lofting Class

I spent this past weekend taking a lofting class in Beaufort, NC. For those of you who may not know, lofting is the process of taking the specifications from a set of plans and creating full-sized drawings.

Learned a lot in the class and enjoyed watching the boats. I particularly liked this one. According to one of the guys in the Watercraft Center, this boat is from the 1930's or 40's. That makes it about the same time that my Granddad Jack would have had his boat.


Had the opportunity to photograph a couple of residents as well.







Finally, here's me with the finished drawings.













The museum offers several courses on different stages and types of boat building, so I figure I'll be down there again sometime soon.

More later!

End Product

Well, I took her out yesterday morning and was able to successfully enter the 'yak, paddle it around for 45 minutes or so, and exit without getting too wet. My entry method doesn't match ANYTHING the books tell you to do, but it works. Next boat will have a cockpit custom-sized for me; at this point, it's not the girth of my waist in the way, but the length of my legs. This is one of those times I'd laugh when someone says "Boy, I wish I was as tall as you are!"

Headed up to WV for a few days on business. Will be back for the 4th and S3's visit with his family.

All for now.

Yet More Modification

Should have posted this on Monday, but got side-tracked. I took the boat out again on Monday evening and found that, while I was able to get into the cockpit, I still scraped my shins. You will recall that I enlarged the front of the cockpit by an inch and removed part of the lowest lamination of the forward beam. The scrape was being caused by what remained of that lamination.

So back to the house and up on the sawhorses goes the boat. Did some liberal (albeit, careful) work with the mallet and chisel to remove what remained of the lamination. Then took the trusty belt sander and smoothed it all out.

Had hoped to get to the water this evening, but the weather gods are in the way. Maybe it'll clear out before sunset.

I have ordered a cockpit cover (for when it's traveling on the truck) and a sprayskirt (for when I'm traveling in it). Cover should be delivered tomorrow. No ETA as yet on the sprayskirt.

So far, I've had a ball!

Did I Say I Was Finished?

After a not-so-successful outing this morning, I came back home with some ideas on modifying the cockpit to make entry and exit easier. Before I get any comments, let me acknowledge that if I was about 30 lbs. lighter these changes wouldn't be necessary. I won't bore you with pictures; you can look at my shins from the initial launch (March 21, 2008) and see what they look like now.

First thing I did (after screwing up the courage) was cut 1/4" from around the front of the cockpit. Then I carved out the bottom lamination of the front beam. The plans called for three, I put in four for strength. My bad. Finally, I took the seat out and replaced it with a foam pad velcroed to the back of the cockpit. Actually more comfortable (for me, at least). Tried a "dry" entry and it was much easier.

Now I'm off to work on the rain barrels. Need to see if I can get someone to accompany me to the lake next weekend to try out what I've changes. I'm not going ot finish (i.e., epoxy and varnish) until I'm sure it will work.

New Future Project

I added the link to the Apple Pie Yacht Tender. This is the boat that I'll be building for Stuart and Jerri. They buy materials, I provide the labor.

I'm Still Around

Having finished cleaning up from building the kayak, I'm focusing on some home/house stuff. I'll be starting a new boat soon: a small rowboat for Stuart III and Jeremy.

In the meantime, I did find this article on an old boat that was found late last year in NC. Old Pole Boat

Whatever Floats Your Boat

We just had the unofficial launching of the kayak. Stuart III, Jerri, and Josie went down to the lake with Janet and I to see if 11 months of work stayed above the surface. I was the first to give it a try, followed by III. Then Jerri got into the kayak and put both of us to shame. I'm figuring I'll get better at it with practice.







Of course, it wouldn't be complete unless blood (mine) was spilled.

Here's a short video of Stu-3 in the kayak.

IT'S A BOAT!!!

Well, it's been almost a year, but the kayak is finally done!! I put the hatch straps, the seat back, and the front bungee on today. Now the hardest part: waiting for a day warm enough to launch.

I'm Getting Closer to My Boat....

(With apologies to Grand Funk Railroad).
Well, the hull has three coats of paint, and the deck has two (so far) coats of varnish. Starting to look pretty good, if I do say so. Straps, bungee and seat back are the finishing touches. April launch looks assured.

Did have one minor setback. I won't be launching with a homebrew wooden paddle; my drawknife took a big chunk instead of a shaving. Best I can figure, I muscled it along a contour line in the wood. Oh well, that's why I have the other paddles.

If I'm lucky, varnish will be done this week with the finishing touches starting on the weekend.

Winter months

Things progress more slowly in the winter. Last weekend, we had a warm spell that lasted long enough for me to put the rub rails on the kayak (with the help of my dear wife, Janet). Looking for the next spell so that I can glue in the hip braces and attach the seat back. If I'm REAL lucky, it'll last long enough for me to paint the hull.

You'll recall from the last post I was looking for someone with a bandsaw. Turns out my brother-in-law, Richard, has one. I was able to roughly shape the blades of the paddle and save myself a LOT of hand planing and cutting.

Still anticipating a spring launch.

Propulsion

OK, just because it's too cold to paint or do any epoxy work doesn't mean that there isn't something to do. I figured a homebuilt wooden kayak deserves a homemade wooden paddle, so today I started to make it. It's a piece of ash that started out as an eight foot 2X6 (actually 1-1/2X5-1/2. I cut it down to 5" wide, then laid out the pattern of the paddle on it. Carefully using a circular saw, I cut out the blank for the paddle. My choices now are 1. to find someone with a bandsaw or 2. to get to work with a handsaw and plane. It will probably be the latter.

More to come.